19990421003799A

(Tty) acft crashed under unknown circumstances, the pilot/solf occupant suffered fatal injuries, the acft was destroyed by fire. (.19) on April 21, 1999, at 2240 central daylight time, a Cessna 182G airplane, N2330R, was destroyed upon impact with terrain while maneuvering near Blanco, Texas. The non-instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant and owner of the airplane, was fatally injured. Dark night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A weather briefing was obtained, but a flight plan was not filed for the 14 code of federal regulations part 91 cross-country flight that originated from the coleman municipal airport near coleman, Texas, at approximately 2130. According to the pilot's wife, the pilot had finished working at coleman, TX, around 2100 and was planning on flying to san antonio, Texas, that night. Witnesses near the accident site report observing the airplane circling in a clockwise direction at low altitude. The witnesses reported that the airplane remained clear of clouds and a light drizzle was falling. They reported hearing the sound of the impact and seeing the first signs of the pose impact fire. The wreckage energ y path was along a 265 degree heading. Among the main wreckage was the empenage, both left and right wing, and the charred remains of the cockpit. Pieces of the aircraft lay along the wreckage path 300 feet prior to the airplanes resting place. The engine came to rest 183 feet west of the main wreckage area. At 2235, the weather observation facility at new braunfels airport, which is located 36 miles southeast of the accident site, was reporting the wind from 160 degrees at 16 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, overcast ceilings at 1,700 feet, temperature 72 degrees f, dewpoint 63 degrees f, altimeter setting 29.69 inches of hg. At 2253, the weather observation facility at the san antonio international airport, which is located 37 miles south of the accident site, was reporting the wind from 140 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 21 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, overcast ceilings at 1,500 feet, temperature 70 degrees f, dewpoint 64 degrees f, altimeter setting 29.89 inches of hg. The pilot accumulated a total of 1,193 hours of flight time at the time of the accident, of which 38 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. (-23) non-instrument rated pilot entrered IFR condition in the Blanco, Texas area located within the Texas hill country. Dark night, IFR, light drizzel, and fog contributed to the pilot becoming disoriented. Witnesses reported that the pilot circled the area prior to impact and post impact fire.